RealGM

If the Bucks lose in Round 1 of the playoffs, what would they do?

Do they fire yet another coach? Who would they hire?

Would they run it back, sell Giannis on resetting the timeline and rebuild around him, or retool around Giannis to shake things up?

Blow it up

Dame would be as good as gone and rumblings of Giannis asking out would pick up real steam.

IQ and Poeltl for Lillard?

Maybe add a Kuzma for Barrett element?

Is Poeltl/Portis/Giannis/Barrett/IQ solid under a new coach?

Dame's faded enough that I'm not sure he's really in that much demand. So I'm not sure he could force his way out and I'm skeptical that if Mil look to move him that they'll get much interesting in return.

Giannis is not that old but I'm not sure how the Bucks meaningfully improve the rest of their roster around him in the next couple of seasons. I figured that as long as they weren't as bad as they looked early in the season (lottery team level) that they'd have at least one more season before major Giannis trade talk happened.

dp

I think you clear the decks for 2026 free agency. I'd start with some kind of Lillard for Durant framework. It probably makes you better in the short-term and I like the Lillard-Booker fit well enough in Phoenix. I'd be desperate to unload Kuzma, anyone who will take him. Would Sacramento do DeRozan and a third team take him for expirings? Would Charlotte do Nurkic?

Find some kind of deal for an expiring point guard. FVV would be a dream, but probably not doable. Portis + Pat for Smart + ??? It isn't ideal, but if Smart is healthy he's at least a guy that makes sense.

Everyone you bring back has only one gtd. year, see if you can make any noise with a team that looks something like:

Lopez/???
Giannis/???/Smith
Durant/???/Livingston
Jackson/Green/???
Smart/Porter Jr./???

It's kind of bleak, but you'd most likely make the playoffs and you'd have Giannis on the books for 2026-27 + Andre Jackson and Chris Livingston/Tyler Smith if either work out.

NYG wrote:IQ and Poeltl for Lillard?

Maybe add a Kuzma for Barrett element?

Is Poeltl/Portis/Giannis/Barrett/IQ solid under a new coach?

And Raps left with no C.

Great plan

I think they're trying to exhaust all options, like a desperate move for Kuzma/Connaughton/Portis for PG... and they try it again, which ends with a disastrous season and they have to move Giannis... Another idea?
Use the MLE for NAW...
Trade
Kuzma/Portis/Livingston to the Blazers for J. Grant/Reath (the Blazers are doing it for flexibility and cost savings)...
Trade
Lillard+Connaughton to Houston for FVV/Brooks...
Bring Brook back if it's not too expensive..although Giannis needs to start at 5

Giannis/Brooks/Reath
J.Grant/Prince?
D.Brooks/Jackson
NAW/Green
FVV/KPJ

That team should be strong in defense

POR is not doing that deal.

JRoy wrote:POR is not doing that deal.

Do you want to pay 36 million to J. Grant, 34/35 years old, in the 27/28 season?

babyjax13 wrote:I think you clear the decks for 2026 free agency. I'd start with some kind of Lillard for Durant framework. It probably makes you better in the short-term and I like the Lillard-Booker fit well enough in Phoenix. I'd be desperate to unload Kuzma, anyone who will take him. Would Sacramento do DeRozan and a third team take him for expirings? Would Charlotte do Nurkic?

Find some kind of deal for an expiring point guard. FVV would be a dream, but probably not doable. Portis + Pat for Smart + ??? It isn't ideal, but if Smart is healthy he's at least a guy that makes sense.

Everyone you bring back has only one gtd. year, see if you can make any noise with a team that looks something like:

Lopez/???
Giannis/???/Smith
Durant/???/Livingston
Jackson/Green/???
Smart/Porter Jr./???

It's kind of bleak, but you'd most likely make the playoffs and you'd have Giannis on the books for 2026-27 + Andre Jackson and Chris Livingston/Tyler Smith if either work out.

I’m not sure Lillard for Durant makes much sense for Phoenix as you can’t play Lillard-Beal-Booker together

However, if you can flip Lillard for Beal and recoup some draft capital it might be interesting. Phoenix has a trade eligible 2029 1st and Cleveland’s 2029 1st. Not great assets, but something.

This could also be tied into a Durant for multiple assets trade with one of those assets heading to Milwaukee. But Milwaukee would need something lineup up with that pick to justify the move - using Couningtons contract and the pick to add a 3 and D wing or point guard to team with Beal.

Astaluego wrote:

JRoy wrote:POR is not doing that deal.

Do you want to pay 36 million to J. Grant, 34/35 years old, in the 27/28 season?

No one does.

I think Giannis would go to BK and Dame would be offloaded for maybe two firsts and an expiring to a team that was on the verge of contention and could use him for a year or so before they buy him out or move him as an expiring.

Seems like an understated story that both Giannis and Jokic are on the eve of being in the last year of their respective deals next year.

In terms of roster construction I will say the same thing if Bucks get eliminated in the 1st round or make the finals. Just keep putting the right pieces next to Giannis and Dame. If you lose from Indy or Detroit just fire Doc too.

Kuzma is not great, but he is more than OK as a third wheel for a contending team.

Book it now that Porter will win the 6th of the season award if he stays in Milwaukee.

Trent has exceeded expectations as a bench scorer and is another piece to keep.

Bobby is another scoring force from the bench that Bucks should keep at a reasonable price.

Bucks need less than many believe to win it all again. They luck a 3 and D at SG to compliment Dame. I’m a NAW believer for that spot. And they need a better and younger fit for Giannis in the front line.

Dame/KPJ/Rollins
XXX/Trent/Green
Kuzma/Prince/Jackson
Giannis/Bobby/Livingston
XXX/Lopez/Smith

Not too many holes to fill. Not easy with Bucks’ limited assets though. Still no need for a blowup.

JKiddy wrote:I think Giannis would go to BK and Dame would be offloaded for maybe two firsts and an expiring to a team that was on the verge of contention and could use him for a year or so before they buy him out or move him as an expiring.

What a coincidence that the best thing Milwaukee could do would be to trade their generational superstar to your favorite team.

What about Portis/Connaughton for KCP based concept?

NYG wrote:What about Portis/Connaughton for KCP based concept?

I like that a lot. KCP feels like exactly what Milwaukee is missing if he returns to form.

I looked at the numbers quickly and I believe Milwaukee has a path to use both the non taxpayer MLE and Bi-Annual exception this summer. Could also keep Lopez in this scenario if he (a) takes a pay cut and (b) they stretch Counington.